Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-03-11
Americas Great Preacher Gone,
s U ID ID EN- DEATH Of HENRY
WARD BEECHER OF PAR.
ALYSIS,
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, the famous
pastor of Plymouth church, Brooklyn, died
on Tuesday morning last.

pastor of Plymouth church, Brooklyn, died
on Tuesday morning last.
ACCOUNT OF HIS ILLNESS.
Mr.. Beecber was taken i'll early Friday
morning, and on Saturday was pronounced
by Dr. VIM. s. Searle and Dr. VIM. A.
Hammond to be suffering from an attack
OF apupleXy With consequent paralysis of the
lett side. He Was In his usual good health
up to last Thursday evening. He had been
out during the day shopping with Mrs.
Beecher and complained OF fatigue on his
return. He ate at night supper consist
ing of half dozen roast CLAIMS, and spent
the evening playing backgammon with
Mrs. Beecher. He retired early and did not
complain OF feeling unwell. He, however,
appeared restless after lying down, so
much SO that he attracted the attention of
his wife, whose room adjoined. She arose
several times during the night and went
into his room. finding him On each occa-
sion in an uneasy slumber. About 4:3O in
the morning Mrs. Beecher heard him yO-
hitting and nastened to his side. He told
her he had been suffering with severe
sick headache all night, an aff1ictlon to
which he was comparative stranger. He
vomlted profusely and said he felt little
better. Shortly after, he fell asleep and
slept without break until $3.50 O'Clock
Il iuAy NiUOlu OOus LILO was uOU ulSJurOG0
during this time, as it has been his habit
for years to sleep in that manner when out
Of sorts. He Was accustomed to say that
sleep was one of his grandest remedies
Mrs. Beecher at length became uneasy
and sent for DR.. VIM. s. Searle, the fami-
ly physician. Ur. Searle found Mr.. Beecher
still sleeping. His appearance" said DR..
Searle, was quite natural, although
thought his face was drawn somewhat to
the right side. The skin, especially of his
extremities, was cool, but not cold. |
easily aroused Mr.. Beecher, and he was
perfectly conscious, l said to him:
You We slept so long that your wife
became worried ald sent for me-
Yes, he responded, Il have slept a
good while. I've been dreaming. 1t was
rather pleasant sort of dream, too.
You know 1 have always been great
dreamer
land what was your dream p asked
" thought was the reply, that | had
been made duke and my wife duchess.
dreamed we had large amount of prop
erty invested in British consOls, and I've
been trying all night to figure out the in
come. You know, Doctor, that arithmetic
has always been great source of trouble
to me-"
''At this time" continued DIR. Searle.
there was no symptom of paralysis.
There was nothing unusual in his cOndi-
tion except the headache and the cool ex-
tremltleS. HIS temperature was somewhat
below the normal standard, and his pulse
was eighty, and rather too Strong and full:
otherwise he seemed in fairly good eondi-
ton. He kept putting his hand to his
head. l prescribed for him and returned
TO his bedside at ten O'Clock. His pulse
was better softer and more natural-but
still be complained of headache. He said
his brain felt sore, and there was a boring
pain at the right side of his head. His
speech was somewhat indistinct. but he
prolruded his tongue naturally Mrs.
Bee cher said that this indistiuctress of
utterance was not unusual when he was
Ill, and she did not regard 1t as important.
Both Mrs. Beecher and the rest of the
family regarded MIR. Beecher's illness as
purely bilious attack or an attack of in.
digestion. looked upon it more seriously.
prescribed for him and returned home.n
Df. Searle Was sent for again at 8
O'Clock Saturday morning, and found that
there was partial paralysis of the entire
left side. He considered his condition 80
serious that DIR. w. A. Hammond of New
YORK, was called in consultation. When
he arrived, about O'Clock in the after.
noon. the paralysis had increased and all
the symptoms were worse. The physicians
agreed that Mr.. Beecher was suffering
from apoplexy, and hat effusion of blood
had taken place in the right cerebrum.
DIR. Hammond met Mrs. Beecher by the
bedside and she asked him if there was
any hope. The physician answered that
appearances we're disheartening, and after
an interchange Of further remarks, Mrs.
Beecher suddenly whispered:
Il believe that he Understands what we
are saying"
ASK him if he does" suggested DR..
Hammond.
With strong effort at composure Mrs,
Beecher raised her voice and said distinctly
to the silent, motionless figure before her:
"Henry, do you understand what we are
talking about p;
A moment of profound silence ensued.
Mr.. Beecher seemed to make q supreme
effort. His lips Enclosed and his breathing
came more quickly. His right hand OPEN
Gu and closed convulsively, and at last a
auI nur of words came forth that fell upon
FAR 2 strained to the utmost. But Che eyes
nevyS opened!
FREDERICKSBURG -that-I-could-
not-recover. was the disjointed sentence
he painfully uttered.
The great preacher then relapsed into